Results: When the Quality Control department of this pasta plant began to notice small pieces of metal appearing in their semolina flour, a quick investigation immediately found the cause. As different component parts within the conveying system were removed for inspection, it was found that metal shavings were making their way into the cast housing of five diverter valves. Because these valves utilize a metal-to-metal interior housing seal, the valve’s plug and housing wore against each other over time, creating metal contamination in the system.

Once valve components were identified as the culprit of contamination, the customer inspected their 4” and a 5” Vortex Wye Line Diverter Valves, used to handle incoming semolina flour. The Vortex valves had been installed for 14 years and had yet to require maintenance. The Vortex diverters utilize interior, *live loaded polymer seals that seal both material and air in the conveying line, thus eliminating the threat of metal-to-metal contact within the valve. Upon inspection, the Vortex valves were declared “clean.”

The company was impressed with the cleanliness and longevity of the Vortex valves and immediately ordered Vortex Wye Line Diverter Valves to replace the pre-existing 3”, 4”, and 6” valves that had created contamination issues. A special 30° offset was added to the discharge weldment, allowing the diverters to more closely adapt to the installation.

The diverters were installed in April 2012. The company has not experienced any other problems since then.

*Live Loaded Polymer Seals – Vortex uses hard polymer seals backed with compressed rubber. As the polymer wears over time, the compressed rubber expands, which continually forces the seals against the blade to maintain a positive seal of fine dust and powders.